Ine van Son

The Deanery, a stately house in the west of Ireland...

It has been empty for many years...

After some asking around I got in touch with the key keeper... He takes me for a visit...

The house and land have been purchased by the local community... The whole site in front of the house is changed into sports fields...

The building lays there, waiting for what will come... Windows are broken... Lace curtains hang useless...

Inside time breathes in and out... A stately entrance with beautiful woodwork... There is still furniture... A beautiful wardrobe with a high mirror... A once comfortable armchair...

A carpet sweeper stands ready for use... The locks and copper handles on the doors are marvelous...

There is money to build the sports fields... There is no money to maintain the house...

A couple of years later I pay a visit to the house again... I don't have to ask the key keeper; the house can not be locked anymore... The door stands next to the frame...

Life has moved on... The mantelpieces are gone... The stones of the wall behind lie open and this gives another, intriguing image...

On the first floor I meet the men who are supposed to build the sports fields... They play cards... They do their needs in the corners of the house and the strip flooring rots further...

A swallow has built its nest in a corner of the room... And the carpet sweeper that two years earlier stood ready for use has broken its handle...

From the key keeper I understand that there still is no money for the maintainance of the house... This has been a few years ago now... I have not been back there since...

Photographs I took I worked into this bookroll. On old textile, matching with the charecter of the house. A continuing story, the book has not been closed yet.